Officers: Son's fight with wife ends with dad killing him

A Liberty County man fatally shot his adult son after a family argument turned violent, authorities said late Friday.

Liberty County sheriff's deputies said Billy Wilkey, 67, admitted shooting his son, Flint Wilkey, 35, shortly after 2 p.m. Friday at his home in the 700 block of County Road 2061 near Hardin.

The elder Wilkey was waiting in the front yard of the home when sheriff's deputies arrived.

Sheriff's officials said Flint Wilkey had been arguing with his wife earlier that day at their nearby home. She went to Billy Wilkey's home to avoid further conflict with her husband but he followed her there and continued the quarrel, authorities said.

Deputies said Flint Wilkey went inside his father's home and began hitting his wife and pulling her hair. He pulled her from the house and tried to force her into his truck; she was struggling and trying to protect herself, deputies said.

Billy Wilkey told deputies his son turned on him when he tried to stop him from attacking his wife. He then fired a single shot from a pistol, killing his son, authorities said.

Flint Wilkey was pronounced dead at the scene.

Billy Wilkey was not arrested. The shooting will be referred to the grand jury, Liberty County sheriff's officials said.